March 1, One Year Later

I met Cyrus at an ELVEN meeting March 1, 2008. I was weeks old as an avatar and had just discovered educational technology groups. I probably heard about this class through a message sent to ISTE. Dewey Jung, was presenting a two hour session on teaching tools in Second Life. I went. Cyrus, as it happens was two seats away. You can see us in this photo and the script of the class is available at the link above. I learned so much in that class that I still remember showing off my skills to others who weren't all that interested. I showed Kiwi and Jerry at Eduisland. I showed Corvette, who invited his friends Luvis and Vegos to see, in a sandbox. I learned about SpeakEasy, FreeViewer, and Notecard Giver at that class; three tools I have used since over and over again.
During the class I was also working on paying bills and my avatar fell asleep. Cyrus IMed me that he had a script that would prevent that. :-) He also had to be away from the computer and asked me to take notes for him, which I did in minute detail! Afterall he was higher ed and I didn't want him to think I was stupid. :-) We met later for me to give him the notes and he showed me his classroom. We have been friends ever since.
We celebrated our friendship on March 1, 2009, days after meeting in person at the VSTE conference. This is one of the magical things about Second Life. You can meet someone and get to know them well in a virtual world and eventually become "real life" friends and, if you are lucky, even work together.
Cyrus, Matt (RL), came to VSTE in Virginia Beach and helped with our eight sessions. He ran the computer attached to the projector for the interview and the New Voyages concert. He managed the audio streaming on the island for us. He's been a huge help with newbies on VSTE Island and has become a friend of Al, Lisa, and Marie, too.
Cyrus, Matt, I appreciate you!